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KING PETER’S HOUSE

During preparations for the construction of St. George’s Church in Oplenac, the so-called “Church House” was built in 1910, designed by architect Kosta J. Jovanović. Built as a temporary structure, from which the construction of the church would be supervised, this building had six rooms where the construction workers could stay, and a basement that was used for equipment and material storage. As soon as it was finished, King Peter I moved in with his staff, supervising the construction of the church. Thus, the house was dubbed “Peter’s’ House”. The old King was here for most of the time until 1915, when he went with his Army into strategic retreat across the Albanian mountains and later on to the Salonika front. His son Regent Alexander (later King Alexander I) came here from the General Headquarters in Kragujevac, to submit his reports about military plans and operations. The King wrote down daily notes, in this very house, filled with precious data about the building of the church, everyday life and the many people who came to Topola.

Today, Peter’s House has an art gallery and offices of the “Endowment of King Peter I Karadjordjevic”. After King Peter’s death and burial at Oplenac in 1921, and especially after the tragic assassination of King Alexander I and his burial at St. George Church, many delegations and those who wished to pay their respects left numerous relics and symbols of artistic and material value. Unable to present all the museum objects within the St. George Church itself, since it gained in volume each year, an exhibition was opened prior to Second World War titled: “The museum of wreaths and the relics placed on the graves of King Peter I and King Alexander I”. These objects disappeared without a trace from Oplenac in 1947 and 1948. Today, King Peter’s House has an area for thematic exhibitions, dedicated to the Karadjordjevic Family or the events at the Endowment Compound.